Clergy Fights Mining

Not impressed: Members of religious groups in the Scenic Hills have made submissions to the state government urging it to reject AGL's plans to extract coal-seam gas from Campbelltown's outskirts.Picture: Luke Fuda

RELIGIOUS groups who call the Scenic Hills home have spoken out against AGL's plans to ramp up coal-seam gas exploration in the area.

The energy company wants to drill 72 gas wells near Campbelltown as part of the northern expansion of the Camden Gas Project.

 

AGL said the expansion would produce a convenient supply of gas for the Sydney region and create jobs.

 

But Carmelite friar Father Greg Burke feared the peace and quiet that had drawn visitors to the Mount Carmel Retreat Centre since the 1960s would be threatened by noise and traffic if gas mining went ahead.

 

"Coal-seam gas in the Scenic Hills is the beginning of the ruination of everything we stand for," he said.

 

"We're kind of an urban lung here in the Scenic Hills.

Read More

Campbelltown Macarthur Advertiser